Imphal, June 05 2009: A barber was shot dead while a mobile spice vendor was seriously wounded in two separate incidents as attacks on the migrant labourers by miscreants suspected to be militants continued in the state.

A youth, who police alleged of directly involved in the murder of the non-locals and charged of being local volunteer of the proscribed UNLF has been arrested by security forces in the follow up action to the attack on the migrant labourers.

The barber identified as Lallal Thakur (50), son of Late Gupteshwor of Haridwar, Patna of Bihar was shot dead this morning around 7.15 am in his own saloon at Wabagai Lamkhai.

He lived in a rented house belonging to one Tiken of Kakching Super market in Thoubal district.

As per report from the place where the shooting of barber took place said that while the people at the market area were running with no direction on hearing the gun firing sounds, they could not know exactly on which direction the assailants left the spot after committing the crime.

A piece of paper written with "IOF na ekhoigi meecham hatlikhei ekhoinasu meetop hatkani (As long as the IOF kill our innocent people, we will also kill the non-locals)" was also found lying nearby the dead body of the barber.

On getting the news of shooting down the non-local, a combined team of Thoubal police commandos and troops of 21 Assam Rifles rushed to the spot and conducted search operation to hunt out the perpetrators at Tokpa Ching, Elangkhangpokpi, Chingjao and Hiyanglam etc.

During the operation an Activa Honda (MN04-B-2074) was recovered from Hiyanglam Mayai Leikai which believed to be abandoned by the assailants.

According to senior SP, Thoubal district police Clay Khongsai the scooter belongs to one Langpoklakpam Subasini of Tekcham but Sabasini clarified that she had sold out it to one Pramod of Wabagai Thingel Leikai.

Police could not find the man.

The SP further said that one youth identified as Elangbam Herojit (20) son of Ibomcha of Hiyanglam Makha Leikai who has been alleged of directly involved in the shooting to dead of the barber was picked by the police.

He was picked up after a brief chase when he was stop on suspicion when he ran away while asking to stop for checking and verification.

During the course of interrogation, the SP added, police came to know that he is a local volunteer of the UNLF and the barber was shot at to dead by two UNLF cadres identified as lance corporal Keisham Herojit alias loktak (25) son of Achouba of Heirok part-II Laishram Leikai and another sergeant major of the outfit Samdram Jugai alias Thambaljao (31) son of Bihari of Thoubal Haokha.

The Sp also informed that Rs 50,000 each will be given as cash award to those who could provide whereabouts of the two alleged perpetrators.

On the other hand, another migrant labour hailing from Bihar was also attacked by miscreants at Pourabi village under Lamlai police station in Imphal east district today at around 10.30 am.

Lakshman Shah (30) son of Panalal of Bukshar district of Bihar was hit by two bullets, one at belly and the other at leg when the two gunmen coming into a motorcycle shot at him several times.

Lakshman currently residing at Pandon in Imphal was attacked by the gunmen coming on a motor cycle.

In the meantime, police has instructed non-locals to gather themselves as the saver place considering the serial attack on them.

SPs of four valley districts have also sent out their under rank officers to inform the non-locals to take asylum at safer places if they considered their residential areas as unsafe.

Imphal east SP has instructed OCs of Lamlai, Irilbung, Heingang police stations etc.

to go round their respective areas of operations and search non-locals residing in the rented house and shifted them to safer places.

Imphal west SP also given same instructions to Patsoi, Wangoi, Mayang Imphal and Sekmai police station to take up the steps for the security of the non-locals.

Some non-locals coming from various places are now started taking shelter at Dharmasala.

Security forces in the follow up action to the killing of the migrant labour busted three to four hideouts of the militants at Takpa Hill areas located some 10 km away from the place of occurrence apart from recovery of a motorcycle believed to be abandoned by the attackers after committing the crime.

The raids at the Tokpa Hill area was conducted by a combined force of Assam Rifles and police commandos today at around 11 am after the area was cordon off from al direction based on specific information of taking shelter some militants in the area.

During the operation three places which believed to be taking shelters by the militants intercepted.

The hideouts were destroyed by the security personnel, police at Thoubal district said.

Comment